Engine lubricator



Aug. 31, 1943.

E. M. GREEN ENGINE LUBRICATOR Filed Jan.

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Patented Aug. 31 1943 UNITED STATES PATENTQOFFICE.

p 1 engine Lmsmca'roa .EmrnetM. Green, Los Ange es, Calif. I fll i licatiori Januar 3, 1942, Serial No. 425,488

6 cla (01.123-196) The present invention relates to lubricators andit relates moreparticularly" to lubricatOrs adapted for upper-cylinder lubrication of internal combustion engines. The present invention Yalsoirelates to certain new and useful siphon means for viscous fluids. i l

An object ofathe present, invention; isgtoprovide a lubricator adapted for engine. head and valve lubricationwhich will accomplish; both lubrication and solvent. treatment of the engine parts. efllciently and in. accordancewiththe need for such treatment; .Another object ofthe'present invention is to provide lanupper.-cylinder lubricator which will supply lubricant and/or solvent at pre-determined intervals;

.Another object of; the present invention is to provide siphon means "for viscous: liquids which will be more efllcientqand which will? prevent entrapment of -air inxthe siphon.

Other objects and purposes, of the present invention are apparent, in. the. specification; ap pended claimsand accompanying drawing.

The present application isfa continuation-in.- part of my co-pending, application 2 Serial N o. 396,817filed June6,.1941=. 3 a y l i The lubricator ofJthe :present-.-invention is adapted to supply lubricant and/or solvent to the, head and valves of an internal .combustion engine, more efficiently and in more direct relationship with the. need of these parts for such lubricationand or solvent treatment; i In old-type lubricatcrs such as were. in use prior to the present invention, lubricant was supplied to the air intake of theiengine either continuously during operation of the engine or in a single charge atthe start of engine operatlon. The latter type of lubricator; namely one which delivers a single charge of lubricant at (andfor a short periodafter) the start of engine operation is exemplified by my 'co-pending ape pllcation Serial No; 256,146 filed" February 13, 1939.. a a i i i As shown in my co-pending application Serial No.: 394,690 filed May 22, 1941, there has also been developed a lubricatorwhich will provide either a single charge of lubricant at the start of engine operation or a continuous supply of lubricant. i

By employing the iubricator covered by my copending application Serial No. 396,817 filed June 6,1941; it was possible, for the firsttime, to supply intermittent charges of lubricant to the t engine head and valvesythe intermittentcharges being furnished during and controlled by opera.- tionof the engine. Since the needionylubrication. and/orsolvent treatment of l the; engine head and valves is dependent primarily upon length of operation, the novel lubricator described in my co-pending application SerialNo. 396,817; was successful in supplyingsuch' lubricant and/or solvent in direct relationship with the requirements of the parts. Furthermore, sincea continuous addition of upper-cylinder (lubricant and/0r. solvent (as supplied bycertain old=type lubricators) isnot necessary and is wasteful, the

. lubricant and/or solvent to.be..a dded. 1 Themesfentfiinvention inits broad aspects also: covers but showing a somewhat. of the present invention. 8

newand: useful improvements in" the general vfield or siphoning of viscous; liquids by: providing siphon means which c'annotbe prematurelyxrestarted due to] entrainment of air in theysiphon tube. i q l For the purpose of illustrating theninvention, there areshown in'the accompanying drawing Sfo'rms thereof which aare at; present preferred,

since. the :samehave been vfound in. practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrufmentalities of which the invention consists can be variouslyarrangedand organized and that the asherein shown and described.

Referring to the accompanyingadrav'ving tin 'Which'likereference characters indicate likeiparts throughouty l a Figure 1 represents a vertical cross-sectional view ofone embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1.2 represents a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view similar to. that of Figurel diiierent embodiment In one embodiment ofmy present invention, I may provide a container I. I closedat its top. by a suitable cap I2 which'may have a screw-threaded connection at l3 with thecontainer proper. The container contains a bcdy'of' lubricant Hlifrom which successive charges are taken forintermittent delivery tothe engine. The device may e supp rted at thexrean or an automobile engine,

I as on the usual body panel, in any suitable manner, as for example by a bracket l4 formed integrally with the cap [2. Lubricant is delivered to the engine through a conduit l5 which may connect into the engine manifold, not shown, or at any other suitable location, and through which the engine-created suction is communicated to the interior of the reservoir. It will be understood that the particular form of the container H and its closure l2 may b modified as desired to adapt the parts to the use of individual containers or cans in which the lubricant may b sold.

The lubricant supply chamber it, which need consist merely of a cup-shaped container I! and a top closure l8 screw-threaded or otherwise attached at I9 to the container ll, is mounted within the upper interior of the reservoir as by means of supports 20 suspending the chamberassembly from the cap I2 of the reservoir. During operation of the engine, lubricant is supplied from body l to the chamber l6 through orifice 21 in the bottom of the depressed portion 22 of the chamber cover I8, the rate of lubricant delivery into the chamber being determined by the effective size of orifice 2|. In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1, this effective orifice size may be varied to increase or decrease the rate of lubricant delivery into the Supply chamber, by an adjustable neeedle valve 23 having a threadedstem extending at24 through the cap l2, as illustrated.

The top surface of the supply chamber may or may not have the cavity 22 above the metering orifice 2!. If used, the cavity may be regarded as forming a secondary chamber within which a predetermined or constant head of lubricant is maintained above the orifice, and from which an amount of lubricant, depending upon th volume of thecavity, will drain through the orifice to supplement the oil in the supply chamber, after the engine is stopped.

Lubricant may be elevated from the body IE! for delivery through orifice 2| to the supply chamber, by asuitable air lift or pump 25 and comprising,

a for -example,.an air inlet tube 26 extending downwardly from its communication through filtering material 21 with the atmosphere, toward the bottom of the reservoir and having a nozzle end 2 8 discharging into a riser tube 29. Lubricant enters tube 29 through openings 30 below the outlet or nozzle 28 of tube 26. During engine operation, thedepression Within the reservoir causes air to be drawn in through tube 26 and the oil entering tube29 through openings 30, to be carried upwardly with the air stream through tube 29 and discharged at 3| directly above the cavitation 22 in the supply chamberoovennA screen-32 is placed above the orifice 2| to prevent clogging of .the orifice by any solid or gummy particles present in the oil. The rate of lubricant discharge through tube 29 will be in excess of the rate of lubricant feedthrough orifice 2| intolthe supply chamber, and the excess oil simply overflows the top of'the chamberand returns to the lubricant body Hi. Pressure equalization between the reservoir and the supply chamber may be assured by maintaining a suitable open communication between the two, as by means of a bent tube 33 ex tending through the cover ofthe chamber.

Provision is made for automatically causing delivery to the suction line I of a lubricant charge accumulated to predetermined volume in the supply chamber IB by a siphon tube indicated generally as 34. The siphon tube 34-has a long arm 44 g which extends through the bottom of the chamher and discharges into the enlarged mouth 35 of conduit I5 placed directly below the outlet end of the siphon tube. The siphon tube may be centrally positioned within the supply chamber in order to bring the highest overflow point 3 ia of the tube in alinement with the vertical axis of the chamber in order to minimiz variations in the quantity of charge siphoned through the tube, as might result from inclining or tipping of the chamber. 1

The short arm 45 of the siphon tube 34 is provided, at its lower free end, with an enlarged tip M which may be conical or funnel-shaped.

It has been found that the enlarged tip #5 which, at its widest point, has a cross-sectional area several times that of the remainder of the siphon tube 34, is highly desirable where relatively viscous liquids are to be delivered through the siphon.

Where the enlarged tip 56 is omitted so that the lower free end of the short arm 45 has the same relatively smallcross-sectional area as the remainder of the'siphon tube 36, the siphon has a tendency to restart (after an initial siphoning operation has been completed) before the liquid in the chamber IT has reached the proper level L-L corresponding to the overflow level 34a of the siphon tube' 3d.

An explanation for this, which I advance as a hypothesis Without, in any way, limiting the vali-dity or scope of the present invention thereby, is as follows? Where viscous liquids are being siphoned throughthe siphon tube and Where the -short arm has a relatively small cross-sectional area throughout its length, air is admitted to the short arm. of the siphon tube when the liquid level in' the container 11 drops below the end thereof.

Due to the high viscosity of the liquid, there is a tendency for some of this air to become entrained in the oil within the siphon tube and finally to be elevated above the overflow point 34a while some of the lubricant still remains in the short arms of the siphon tube. The siphon tube thus contains alternate pockets of air and liquid and, as a result, the siphoning action stops while some slugs of oil still remain in both the short and long arms of the siphon tube. That is, a mor or less static balance is reached within the siphon with a certain amount of air entrapped at the bend of the siphon, at thepoint 34.a and with slugs or pockets of liquid below the point 34-:1 in both of the arms of the siphon. Thus, the siphon is not completely cleared of liquid as it should be in normal operation.

When the liquid level within the container again starts to rise due to the action of the air lift, it will exert a pressure against the oil slug .the'long arm is forced downward. When the slug in the short arm reaches the point 34-11, the siphon will be restarted even though the liquid level within the container H is considerably below the proper overfiow (shown at LL in Figure 1). Thus, the siphon empties the small amount of oil in the container ll prematurely.

It can be seen, therefore, that this condition would result in small additions of lubricant at very short intervals rather than larger additions of oil atconsiderably longer intervals of engine operation.

I have found that'by employing the tip Mi having a-considerably enlarged cross-sectional area,

the weight of the extra liquid present in the short arm the siphon is sumcienhwhen all-' is first admitted through thelower end thereof',ltoeovercome the tendency of the characteristidsurface tension in relativelywmore viscousfliquids to. hold iiquid suspendedtor entrained'in theutubal so: that all? liquid inithe ,shortarm willtdropbackinto the container [1. By reason of: the enlargedtip 46; the total volumeipfsthe short arm becomes moreorfi les approximately equal to the :volume of the long. arm- Thus: a sufficiently largeydis placementof air: is provided .inthe shortqarm of the siphon so that even if a subsequent; entrapment of this air shouldoccur, due; to the. weight of; oil remaining in the long arm-of the siphon, therelwill be. a suiflcient volume of ,air completely to purgethezlong arm of thesiphon of liquid while wthefprocess of emptyin the Container.

progresses). When'the. long arm of the siphon is completely emptied? of liquid, the liquid: level less ofithefviscosity, of the lubricant and/or solventwbeing-delivered; Y

reached the proper level In Figure 2;an. alternative form 41 of enlarged tipfor theshortendof the siphonttube is shown.

The portion 411 is generallycylindrical and has a c ess-sectional area, severahtir'nes that of the reminder of the siphon jtube so, that the weight of the liquid in the short arm is sufficiently. great completely toj break the siphon as soon as air is admitted through the lowermost open end thereof.

Insteadof havin merely thelowermost tip of the short arm enlargedinfcross section as shown in Figures I and 2; it tspossible to make the entire short arm with a relatively la-rg e' crosssectional area to ensure complete breakage of the siphon when the liquid level in the container I1 drops below the end of the short arm.

Reference hasfbeen" made to the showing in Fig. 1 of an adjustable needle valve 23 for controllably varying therate of oil flow into the supply chamber, and the period during engine chargeto be delivered to the engine. The period between deliveries of successive charges may also be varied, as shown in Fig. 2, by maintaining under. given pressure conditions, uniform rate of oil delivery to the supply chamber and varying.

in effect the volume of thechamber to be occupied, by the charge before its removal by the,

siphon. In Fig. 2 the oil is shown to enter the I I nefer here: to -the. capacity of; theadiustmeut forcontrollablmvaryingithe volume ofrtheicharge andi the. adaptability of. the device to, supply greater volume :charges? at: longer; intervals, or smaller: volume :chargesat reduced intervals. a specific illustration; where the; engine: is. oper ated over an. average; short period of; time, or with frequent startingsandstoppings, it may be desirable to supplyqthe jenginewithsmallervolume lubricant charges, andiat; shortepintervals. This of course. may be. done simply by lowering the overflow'height of the siphonto reduce the volume of the charge and correspondingly. decrease the period between deliveries of successive ar l f I As previously, observed, the invention 15- para ticularly advantageous, by reason of, its mode of operation. for the. delivery of. lubricants which contain solvents or havessolvent propertieswith respect totcarbonaceous deposits onthe engine partsto be contacted bythedubricant- Accordingly, the; operating. and timing 1 characteristics of the: lubricator: are controlled and predetermined. in contemplation .ofuboth proper lubrication and. solvent treatment of the engine parts.

inoperlation, upon startingof the engine the depression communicated through tube l 5. to the lubricator starts delivery of the oil through tube 29- and orifice ziinto. the supply chamber. I-B, all as .previouslyexplained. In general, the point at which the lubricantl charge .will be delivered through the siphon tube will depend upon the rate at whichthefcharge, accumulates toa predeterrnined Y quantity or..volume injthe supply chamber. Under [normal conditions of engine operation, lubrication and. solvent treatment of operation, required for accumulation of the the engine parts... are ,not required at intervals shorter thanuperiodsof. about one hour,,or. even twoolg three hours, based on .thetime of, continu} ous onactual-engme operation. Valve 23 in Fig.. 1,

or the tube 4| in'Fig. '2," therefore. isadjusted accordingly. When the lubricant accumulates in the supp chamber to the leVelL-liofj overflow through the siphon tube, the charge isdelivered to the suction conduit ii (at a rate which may be controlled by the effective size or diameter of the siphon tube) to be taken into the engine.

Thereafter, a successive charge accumulates.

within the supply chamber, but only while the engine is operating-to be delivered at the end of a determined period or extended engine operation. As will be apparent, whatever amount of lubricant is present in the supply chamberwhen the engine is stopped, will remain to be supplemented by additionallubricant when the engine supply chamber through a constant-size orifice 31 about an adjustable stem 38 threaded through the cap at 39 and connected at 41! with a flexible free end portion 4 la of the siphon tube, the lower part 4| of which is rigid and afilxed to the bottom walliof the chamber l1. vThe connection at may consist typicallyof aprojection 42 carried by the flexible tube 4 la and having its underside engaged by the head 43 of stem ,38. When turned,

have an advantage for certain'operating requirements, independently of the. function of the siphon tube adjustment for varying the length of time required for accumulation of the charge.

again starts into operation.

While the novel siphon tube of the presentinvention has been shown in connection witha lubricator, it may also be used in other equipment employing a siphon for intermittent delivery for relatively viscous liquids.

The present invention may be embodied in pended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

The invention having been hereinabove described, what is hereby claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is: a

1. In an engine lubricator of the character described, a lubricant reservoir, a supply chamber,

means operable by: the engine suction for elevat' ing lubricant from the body of lubricant in said reservoir and delivering a predetermined charge of the elevated lubricant into the supply chamber, a delivery conduit adapted to transfer lubricant to the engine, a siphon operable when the charge has been delivered to the chamber to withdraw the charge therefrom directly to said conduit for delivery to the engine, said siphon having at least a portion of its short arm substantially enlarged in cross-sectional area, and means for varying the time interval between siphoning operations.

2; In an engine lubricator of the character described, a lubricant reservoir, a supply chamber, means operable by the engine suction for elevating lubricant from the body of lubricant in said reservoir and delivering a predetermined charge of the elevated lubricant into the supply chamber, means for varying the charge of lubricant delivered to said supply chamber, a delivery conduitadapte'd to transfer lubricant to the engine, and a siphon operable when the charge has been delivered, to the chamber to withdraw the charge therefrom directly to [said conduit for delivery to the engine, said siphon having the end of its short arm substantially enlarged in cross-sectional area. i v

[3. In an engine lubricator of the character described, a lubricant reservoir, asupply chamber, means operable by the engine suction for elevating lubricant from the body of lubricant in said reservoir anddelivering a predetermined charge of the elevated lubricant into thesupply chamber, a delivery conduit adapted to transfer lubricant tothe engine, and a siphon operable when the charge has been delivered to the chamber to scribed,ia lubricant reservoir, 2, supply chamber,

means operable by the engine suction for elevating. lubricant from the body of lubricant in said reservoir and delivering a predetermined charge of the elevated lubricant intothe-supply chamber, a delivery conduit adapted to transfer lubricant to the engine, a siphon operable when the charge has been delivered. to the chamber to withdraw the charge therefrom directly to said conduit for delivery to'the engine, said siphon having an enlarged funnel-shaped tip at the end of its short arm, and means for communicating the engine suction pressure uniformly to both said chamber and the reservoir.

5. In an engine lubricator of the character described, a lubricant reservoir, a supply chamber, means operable by the engine suction for elevating lubricant from the body of lubricant in said reservoir and delivering a predetermined charge of the elevated lubricant into the supply chamber, a delivery conduit adapted to transfer lubricant to the engine, and a siphon operable when the charge has been delivered to the chamber to withdraw the charge therefrom directly to said conduit for delivery to the engine, the short arm of said siphon having a substantially greater cross-section. than thelong arm.

6. In an engine lubricator of the character described, a lubricant reservoirfa supply chamber, means operable by the engine suction for elevating lubricant from the body of lubricant in said reservoir and delivering a predetermined charge of the elevated lubricant into the supply chamber, a delivery conduit adapted to transfer lubricant to the engine, a siphon operable when the charge has been delivered to the chamber to withdraw the charge therefrom directly tosaid conduit for delivery to the engine, said siphon having at least a portion of its short arm substantially enlarged in cross-sectional area, and means for varying the length of said short arm, thereby to regulate the size of, and period between, withdrawals.

EMMET M. GREEN. 

